"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

I used to play in bands as a drummer. One of my inspirations was Kenny Clarke, a jazz drummer of the 'forties through the 'seventies who had a swinging swinging style, no extraneousness to his playing at all, just direct and swinging and always supportive. A master!

The other inspiration for me was Tony Williams who started playing professionally at 16 with Jackie McLean and then Miles Davis and who was a force of nature, a truly four-limbed independent machine of ideas who really showed me what could be done with a drum kit and an inventive spirit. He left us far too young and he's sorely missed.

I can remember the first time I heard my next choice.....I was watching the film "The Bridges of Madison County" and kept hearing this haunting deep voice. A little investigation revealed Johnny Hartman. Shortly thereafter I purchased at least half a dozen CDs. In my "What's Spinning" choice he is heard with another favorite or should I say favorites....the whole band is incredible. Everyone should have the "Complete John Coltrane Quartet on Impulse". Later Coltrane got too difficult for me just as Miles Davis passed me by when he hit "Bitches Brew".

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

Interesting. I'm not much of a Hartman fan. I have three or four albums but I just don't play them much. I think he's a great talent but just doesn't reach me personally.

I have learned to love late Coltrane, and it was Filles De Kilamanjaro and Bitches Brew that I FIRST heard from Miles Davis, and I bought all the other electric Miles recordings as they came out before I started going back to the albums before that.

I would have gotten to Sonny but recently I was listening to some of the "Complete Clifford Brown on Emarcy"....wonderful. He led his life completely opposite of Art Pepper. Clean living family man. He even had a lot of life insurance when he died in a car wreak.

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare

Mary Lou Williams. A fascinating artist, from Pittsburg, gained prominence in the late thirties in Kansas City, went on to become both a mentor to many beboppers and an interesting modern jazz composer. Mary Lou was a devout Catholic and wrote several suites with religious themes that are vey interesting. In her later years she became quite a jazz promotor and educator.

Ah, Mary Lou...I haven't listened to her in more than ten years. When I discovered her, I accumulated quite a few CDs. I'll have to see if I can find one. Lon, thanks for clearing some of the cobwebs from my memory. Mark.

"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare